Southwest comes up short in close battle with Eagle Pass

Southwest's Damian Lopez looks for running room during a playoff game in November 2017 at Alamo Stadium.

Southwest's Damian Lopez looks for running room during a playoff game in November 2017 at Alamo Stadium.

Photo: San Antonio Express-News File Photo

Photo: San Antonio Express-News File Photo

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Southwest's Damian Lopez looks for running room during a playoff game in November 2017 at Alamo Stadium.

Southwest's Damian Lopez looks for running room during a playoff game in November 2017 at Alamo Stadium.

Photo: San Antonio Express-News File Photo

Southwest comes up short in close battle with Eagle Pass

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A frantic fourth quarter comeback attempt by the Southwest Dragons came up short as they lost to the Eagle Pass Eagles, 16-14, at Southwest Legacy High School’s Titan Stadium on Friday, Sept. 7.

The Dragons (1-1) rallied from a 16-7 deficit early in the fourth quarter to get within striking distance in the final minutes of the game, but Eagle Pass (1-1) held on for the win by stopping one last drive by Southwest in the final seconds, as Southwest quarterback Damian Lopez was tackled by an Eagles defender at the Eagle Pass 35-yard line on fourth down.

Lopez started the Southwest comeback when he connected with Ricardo Coronado for a 43-yard pass completion on fourth and three that put the ball at the Eagle Pass 23-yard line. The big play set up a 6-yard touchdown run by William Herrera, which put the Dragons within two points at 16-14 with 5:19 left in the game.

After stopping Eagle Pass on fourth down at their own 35-yard line, Southwest took over with 1:37 remaining in the game and drove 30 yards to the Eagles’ 35 before Lopez was stopped on a two-yard run on fourth down and 10.

Southwest coach Matt Elliott said the Dragons’ downfall in the game were mistakes and penalties.

“We had four holding penalties and we had two offsides,” Elliott said. “You only get eight or nine drives in a game and when you have seven or eight offensive penalties, it doesn’t work that way.”

Southwest was penalized eight times for 47 yards.

Offensively, the Dragons struggled for most of the second half as they started two drives inside their 10-yard line and penalties forced them farther back to their goal line. While Southwest was unable to mount a consistent drive for most of the second half, Eagle Pass was able to put together a short six play, 40-yard drive which resulted in a four-yard touchdown run from Ricky De Los Santos, which put the Eagles up 14-7 at the 4:10 mark of the third quarter.

The Eagles picked up two more points in the fourth quarter when a high snap went over the head of the Southwest punter in the end zone, resulting in a safety.

Southwest took a 7-0 lead with 1:36 in the first quarter on a 3-yard touchdown run by Herrera. The score was set up by another big pass play from Lopez to Coronado on a wide receiver screen, which went for 40 yards. Coronado was the Dragons’ top pass catcher in the game, catching four passes from 92 yards.

Eagle Pass tied the game at 7 on the ensuing possession on a 5-yard scoring run by Saul Peralez at the 10:43 mark in the second quarter.

The Eagles passing attack also proved to be effective as Ricardo Luna threw for 183 yards, with six of his completions going to Oscar Castillon, who totaled 89 receiving yards.